It was a dominant game from the start as the Bolts cruised past the Kings. The Bolts got their offense rolling and the Kings could never stop them. The special teams for the Bolts were also huge as they kept the Kings on their toes throughout the game. As for the Kings, they could just not get anything going as the Bolts danced around them for most of the game. With the Bolts firing on all cylinders, they would win this one by a score of 6-2, let’s take a look at how we got here period by period.

First Period

The Kings jumped out to a quick start picking up a quick shot on goal but were denied early by Vasy. The Lightning quickly responded with some chances of their own as they crashed the net but were denied by Quick. Things then got a little chippy behind the LA net as Paquette and Phaneuf got into it. Both players would receive 2 min for roughing making it a 4 on 4 early on in this one. Both teams picked up a few shots but neither would take advantage of the open ice. The Kings then found themselves in a sticky situation as Brendan Leipsic was called for high-sticking. Coburn would have some blood on his face which made this a double minor giving the Bolts an extended power play. The Bolts got a few nice chances early on, but the Kings dug themselves a deeper hole as Dustin Brown was called for hooking. The Bolts would have a full 2 min on the 5 on 3 but only needed a few seconds. Johnson slid the puck to Stamkos who then faked the one-timer as he gave the puck to Kucherov who fired it home for a 1-0 lead! The Bolts would still have some time left on the original double minor and got right back to work. The Bolts lethal power play would strike again as they got Quick moving from side to side until Point put it home for a 2-0 Lightning lead. There would still be a few seconds remain on the power play but the Kings finally got the rest of it killed off. After a dominating performance on the power play, the Bolts continued the offensive push picking up a few more opportunities. Things then didn’t get any better for the Kings as Muzzin sent a pass right to Ryan Callahan who came in on the breakaway and made it a 3-0 hockey game. The Kings then finally got some offensive shots of their own but Vasy easily turned them away. In what seemed to be an eternity for the Kings the period finally came to a close with the Bolts leading it by 3.

Goals: 3-0. Tampa Bay

Shots: 16-7 Tampa Bay

Second Period

The Bolts wasted no time with the start of the second as Ryan McDonagh rocketed one past Quick for a 4-0 Lightning lead. The Kings finally got some offense going as they came in on a 2 on 1 but the play was broken up by Vasy! What can’t this man do? The Kings would draw a penalty though as Sergachev was called for cross-checking. The Kings got a few shots off but the Bolts killed the penalty and got right back to their offensive ways. The Kings almost made a costly turnover as Erne stole the puck and quickly put it on the net, but Quick was just quick enough to keep it at a deficit of 4. The Kings would finally capitalize as Austin Wagner stole the puck from McDonagh and beat Vasy to get the Kings on the board. Hedman then got a few chances of his own as he took a few shots from the point but would just miss the net. The Kings then got one of their best opportunities as Leipsic was wide open but put it wide of the net. The Kings would then head back to the penalty kill as Kopitar was called for a high-stick. The Bolts would once again capitalize as Hedman, Stamkos, and Kucherov got the Kings moving all over the place before Stammer put it home for a 5-1 lead. Things would then get a little chippy again with both teams going at it. The Bolts would be called for too many men on the ice after the scrum giving the Kings their second power play of the night. The Kings got a few chances but time would expire in the period with just over 20 seconds still to go on the penalty. The Bolts would head into the locker room with a 4 goal lead and just 20 min to go.

Goals: 5-1 Tampa Bay

Shots: 27-14 Tampa Bay

Third Period

The Bolts would kill off the rest of the penalty to start the third and get back to full strength. Both teams then went back and forth getting a few shots here and there, but neither could find the back of the net. Time continued to fly by with both teams netminders locking everything down. The Kings would then get another power play opportunity as McDonagh was called for holding. The Bolts would once again kill off the penalty making them 3 for 3 on the Kill. Just seconds after the penalty was over Joseph put on a burst of speed and stole the puck from Doughty and put it home for his 10th goal of the season! The Bolts would then soon head back to the penalty kill as Sergachev was called for interference. The Bolts would once again kill the penalty off with relative ease as they were now 4 for 4 on the kill. The Kings would keep on pushing as they picked up a few more shots on goal but still could not find the back fo the net. The Kings would then get another chance to find success on the power play as Palat went off for hooking. The Kings would finally connect on the power play as Doughty rifled one past Vasy to make it a 6-2 hockey game. The Kings picked up a few more shots, but it was far too late as the period would come to a close and the Bolts would be victorious by a score of 6-2.

Goals: 6-2 Tampa Bay

Shots: 33-29 Tampa Bay

1.  Nikita Kucherov (1G, 3A)
2.  Steven Stamkos (1G, 2A)
3.  Brayden Point (1G, 1A)

Up Next and Final Strike

This was a dominant performance by the Bolts as they got the offense rolling and never looked back. The Bolts special teams were also rolling as they went 3 for 4 on the power play and went 4 for 5 on the kill. Vasy was once again was on point as he stopped nearly every shot thrown his way. The Bolts defense was also at their best as they held the Kings to under 30 shots on goal. This was by far the Bolts best game of the season despite it coming against the Kings. The Bolts will face a much tougher opponent in the Sharks but look for them to continue this success.

The Bolts will look to extend their point streak to 17 games as they take on the San Jose Sharks Saturday, January 5th at 11:00 PM in the SAP Center.